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Israel fires at Syrian missiles on Golan Heights: army
JERUSALEM, July 23, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Israel on Monday said its air defences
fired at rockets that approached its territory from neighbouring Syria, where
regime troops are advancing on opposition forces close to the Israeli-
occupied Golan Heights.
“Syrian rockets were identified as having been launched as part of the
internal fighting in Syria,” an Israeli army statement said in English.
The statement said two of Israel’s newly deployed David’s Sling
interceptors were launched “in response to the threat to Israeli territory,”
but added the Syrian rockets fell inside Syria. It did not say if the
interceptors hit the rockets.
David’s Sling, developed with United States backing, was introduced into
service in April 2017 to fill the gap between the longer-range Arrow missile
defence system and the shorter-range Iron Dome interceptor.
Israeli media said Monday was the first time it was fired operationally.
Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres (460 square miles) of the Golan from
Syria in the 1967 Six Day war, in a move never recognised internationally.
Israel has been on high alert since June 19, when Syrian government forces
launched a Russia-backed offensive to retake Quneitra and Daraa and
provinces, adjacent respectively to the Israeli-held section of the Golan and
to Jordan.
Regime forces have since regained control of most of these two provinces
through a combination of deadly bombardment and Moscow-brokered surrender
deals.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1636 hrs